On April 11, Illinois Senate Republicans unveiled a legislative package to make childcare more affordable for Illinois families and businesses.

According to Capitol News Illinois, the state has lost nearly 4,300 licensed childcare providers – approximately 33 percent – over the past decade. Meanwhile, nearly 60 percent of Illinoisans live in a childcare desert, and that percentage rises to 70 percent in rural areas, where working families are often forced to travel long distances for care.

Key proposals of the package proposal include:

• Senate Bill 1120 creates the Child Care Providers Working in Child Care Deserts Student Loan Forgiveness Act, offering up to $4,000 in loan forgiveness funds per year for undergraduate degrees and $8,000 per year for graduate degrees, for up to two years. It also extends daycare license renewals from three to four years, requires free online training for childcare providers by July 1, 2026, and raises income eligibility for childcare assistance to 250% of the federal poverty level starting in fiscal year 2026.
• Senate Bill 1121 modernizes licensing rules specifically for childcare deserts by allowing the state to reduce unnecessary red tape, streamline the approval process, and adjust licensing requirements to better reflect local needs and workforce conditions.
• Senate Bill 2382 establishes an income tax credit equal to the fair market value of donated real property for onsite childcare facilities.
• Senate Bill 2277 increases the income tax credit for businesses offering childcare services to employees.

The Illinois Senate Republican Caucus will continue to push legislation to strengthen their local economies and encourage pro-business, pro-family solutions.